Taylor lights up Las Vegas

By Joe Drabble

Phil Taylor produced another darting masterclass to clinch his fifth Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 13-11 victory over Raymond van Barneveld on Sunday night.

The 14-time world champion was once again in mesmerising touch, scoring heavily and finishing clinically on his way to a third major final victory over his fierce rival.

However Barney can hold his head up high, storming back after a sluggish start in what was another classic match-up between these two heavyweights of their sport.

The Dutchman looked doomed at 11-7 down, however he reeled off three legs on the spin before Taylor showed his class to wipe out 104 and seal the win.

Both men had booked their final places following comfortable semi-final victories earlier in the evening at the Mandalay Bay venue.

Taylor signalled his intent with a staggering 11-1 triumph over former world champion John Part - averaging 107 in an utterly one-sided contest first up on Sunday evening.

Inspired

Barney was made to work harder by James Wade, but he too picked up where he left-off in the previous rounds to seal a 11-6 win over 'The Machine'.

Taylor started the final with his 18th maxiumum of the tournament and quickly wrapped up the opening leg with a 13-darter.

Barney was staring at a 3-0 deficit moments later after failing to capitalise on three missed doubles from Taylor, however the Dutchman recovered with back-to-back legs to head into the first interval 3-2 behind.

From there on there was little to separate these two darting geniuses and it wasn't until the 15th leg that Taylor made his move.

With the scores level at 7-7, the Stoke-on-Trent supremo reeled off four legs on the bounce with an inspired spell of heavy scoring and clinical finishing as Barney looked on in disbelief.

However, with Taylor seemingly cruising towards yet another major triumph, van Barneveld launched an inspired comeback, effortlessly taking out 124 on double 11 in the 21st leg to reduce the deficit to 11-10.

But Taylor showed his class, breaking Barney's throw the very next game before wiping out 104 in style to complete another breathtaking victory.